For this I've chosen this great Canadian cover sent by Bryon few years ago, with this amazing semi-postal-stamps sheet issued on September 6th, 2011 for the Mental Health series - did you know that Canada issued these from 2008 till 2011, with a 10¢ surcharge that went to the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health to be used for mental-health research and patient support? The main reason they started it was to eliminate the misconceptions associated with mental illness and establishing the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health.
According to me it is a great initiative since often Mental Health is like a taboo and mental illness is something people feel ashamed of and just keep that hidden from the others... but it is just as important as the physical health...and those two just have to go together for one's own well-being.
Another interesting thing regarding this issue is that for the first time in history Canada Post invited Canadians to submit designs for a stamp, and also tasked the public to participate in the design selection process through the social media.
Out of more than 300 stamp-design entries, this was the most voted one with over 286,000 online votes..."The Puzzle" by Miriane Majeau - for this design Miriane has said that "Dealing with mental health issues can be like putting a puzzle together. As the puzzle comes together, as you find the right pieces and connect them in the right way, something beautiful and whole is revealed.”
N.B
A semi-postal stamp is also known as a charity stamp, and that is a postage stamp issued to raise money for a particular purpose (such as a charitable cause) and sold at a premium over the postal value.
ps. that other (neglected) stamp was also issued in 2011 for the International Year of Chemistry
thanks a whole bunch to Bryon for this one! :)
and for more stamps on health and welfare, check out today's edition of Sunday Stamps
That's a beautiful stamp sheet and an important issue. In our country even the minister of health makes the mistake by considering mental diseases different from physical diseases, which caused for example a strange differentiation in reimbursement, and a weird difference in organization of mental health care for children.
ReplyDeleteThere's still a lot of misconception about mental illness. In Morocco this is a great taboo, unluckily. Things are changing, but perhaps too slowly.
ReplyDeleteThe design of this stamp is beautiful and appropriate.
Nice composition on the envelope. I like the idea of the jigsaw puzzle, we all have one of those in our heads.
ReplyDeleteI almost used this one, but couldn't find my copy, so ended up with the other one. I'm so glad you had one to show.
ReplyDeleteA clever design, and it makes for a stunning stamp.
ReplyDeleteWe in the UK never seem to have the imagination to create something as good as this to raise awareness and raise funds at the same time.
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